888-656-9287

925-204-3846 has called me twice in the past month or so with useless caller ID of "Antioch CA." The first time there was not message. They left a robotic message this time. The recorded female voice said she was a debt collector with Collection Bureau of America and this was an attempt to collect a debt. She asked me to call (888) 656-9287. I looked up (888) 656-9287 and found no information. There was also a confusing and incomplete recorded message with a male voice after hers. I looked up Collection Bureau of America. They are based in Hayward, California, which is in the Bay Area with the 925 area code, but not in the 925 area code. Google says their number is (510) 781-5178, which has the area code for Haward. Their website is http://www.collectionbureauofamerica.com/. Their website says their number is 888-306-2045 and that their pay-by-phone number is 888-454-0313 and their fax number is 510-781-5101, which is close to the number Google gives for them. However, neither the number in the caller ID nor the number in the voice mail matches any of Collection Bureau of America's numbers. Collection Bureau of America looks like an established business, but this call does not look much like it is from them. This could be a scam.

This is a scam

Received a call from 509.553.0148.  They claim to be Collection Bureau of America.  Asked me to call 888.656.9287

Called my land line and left a dozen of voicemails overtime. I hardly check my landline VM much nowadays. It said to call 888-656-9287,  Collection Bureau of America.  The caller-id memory on the phone shows these calls originated from many different area code listed as "Portfolio Recovery". This is a scam!

If you live in a default judgement county, they WILL get their money. They are legit and are taking the steps to notify the debt holder. Somehow, old debts are being 'refreshed' by merely trying to contact you. So if you have a debt that's over 10 years old suddenly showing up on your credit report, that means your credit is being monitored by collectors and the moment you are approved for a new credit account, they spring back to life. The old debt refreshing is illegal. How can you combat it? Monitor your credit report and clean out old stuff by making the request to the credit reporting agencies. The collector MUST provide evidence of why the rating must remain, otherwise, its wiped off. Check with your county clerk's office to see if there are any pending judgments against you. If there are then the countdown starts. Get a lawyer and let them handle it. Default Judgement counties allow the county clerk to act on behalf of the court and authorize garnishments and liens. Trust me. They got me.

Caller ID showed call was from 818-918-9413; Message left was cut off, female voice recording “an important. We have an important message from collection bureau of america. This call is from a debt collector. Please call 888-656-9287.” I looked them up—toll free number for CBA (888) 306-2045. There is no info about call back number left. Almost positive that this is a scam.

I too received the call from this number 2-3 times in last one week, asking me to call back. I would assume the creditor will inform me before sending it to the collection and all my accounts have always been current.

Yes, you would most likely get calls and letters from the original creditor before they turned it over to a collection agency.

You will need to send them a certified, return receipt debt validation (by law they have to go back to the original creditor to prove you owe the debt), cease and desist calling, or "not me" letter (this will be the best money that you have ever invested).  Also send it first class mail in case no one will sign for it.  Make a notation of that fact at the bottom of the letter.  You also need to report them to the proper agencies to which I have provided links to.  Then you need to go out and get a consumer lawyer to sue them on a contingency basis (no money out of your pocket) and let them pay you for the harassment.  If everyone did these three things, these crooks would be bankrupt, and we would all be the richer for it.  Use these web sites to find an attorney in your state that will probably take the case on a contingency basis (no money out of your pocket up front):  http://www.consumeradvocates.org/
http://www.consumeradvocates.org/find-an-atto ... tates_value=All

Everything else you need to know follows including at least two or more federal and state agencies where you should report their criminal activities.

COLLECTION BUREAU OF AMERICA, LTD. AKA CBA

Website says they are in California: http://www.collectionbureauofamerica.com/page.php?page_id=6066

BBB gives them an accredited A+ rating with 48 complaints and 5 negative reviews (BBB removed 39 complaints and 1 negative review) as of 5/6/2021: https://www.bbb.org/greater-san-francisco/bus ... ayward-ca-36526

California Dept. of State info:
C0371586    COLLECTION BUREAU OF AMERICA, LTD.

Registration Date:
03/24/1959
Jurisdiction:
CALIFORNIA
Entity Type:
DOMESTIC STOCK
Status:
ACTIVE
Agent for Service of Process:
SHAWN DELUNA
25954 EDEN LANDING RD
HAYWARD CA 94545
Entity Address:
25954 EDEN LANDING RD
HAYWARD CA 94545
Entity Mailing Address:
25954 EDEN LANDING RD
HAYWARD CA 94545

It is incumbent upon them under the law to prove that the debt exists and that you owe it, and (this is the important part) that they have the legal right to collect it.  You are not obligated under the law to prove that you don’t owe or that it is paid.  

Federal law (FDCPA) requires them to send you a letter (US MAIL ONLY) postmarked within 5 days of their first contact that contains their name, physical address, the creditor’s name, and the amount of the alleged debt. It also must contains “mini-Miranda” telling you that it is an attempt to collect a debt and that all information will be used for those purposes.  The one other important thing that this letter must also have in it is that you have a right to dispute the debt within 30 days of receipt of the letter and if you do so, all collection activity must be stopped until the debt is verified.  If and when you get that letter you should immediately send that debt validation letter by certified, return receipt mail.

First, you should make a complaint at this Federal Agency, and while there you should also read up on how debt collection is supposed to work as well as what your rights in this matter are: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/

Also file complaints with the FTC: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#crnt&panel1-1

Also file a complaint with your State Attorney General's office.
List of State AG’s offices:   https://800notes.com/faq/attorney-general